Prevalence of Low or Very Low Food Security in Undergraduate Nursing Students.

ABSTRACT: Food insecurity occurs when there is a lack of resources to obtain food. This study sought to identify the prevalence of food insecurity in baccalaureate nursing students. Data on demographics, perceived stress, food security, and food access were collected using a survey from 201 baccalaureate nursing students. Nearly 43 percent of students reported food insecurity within the last year. Students reporting food insecurity reported higher levels of perceived stress (p < .01). Findings support that food insecurity is prevalent in nursing students. An increase in awareness, assessment, and efforts to provide early interventions should be considered.

Are Providers Adequately Screening for Anxiety Symptoms During Pregnancy?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the difference in prevalence of self-reported anxiety symptoms throughout pregnancy compared to clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder by a provider. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study of 50 pregnant individuals. SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM: Pregnant individuals commonly experience heightened anxiety symptoms, which are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder by a health care provider is less common, which may result in insufficient mental health intervention. PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant individuals were recruited at their first prenatal appointment and followed until birth. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS: We examined anxiety symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Anxiety subscale. We conducted a medical record review to examine if pregnant individuals were clinically diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. RESULTS: Based on an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Anxiety subscale cutoff score of ≥5, 40% (n = 20) of individuals experienced anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. However, only 16% (n = 8) of participants were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder by a health care provider. CONCLUSION: Anxiety symptoms are prevalent throughout pregnancy and may be underdiagnosed by health care providers. An intervention to increase clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and subsequent referral to a mental health specialist may be indicated.

Preparing Nurse Educator Students for the New National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX and AACN Essentials.

BACKGROUND: Graduate nursing education students are required to complete essential core content (such as education theory, accreditation, evidence-based teaching strategies, and evaluation methods) to prepare them to transition into independent practice. The 2021-2022 academic year required a monumental change in the existing curriculum to incorporate the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials and the Next Gen National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) content. METHOD: An innovative, prioritized, learner-centered, backward design was used to update the existing curriculum to add the new core content to the nursing education student curriculum. RESULTS: The end of program comprehensive exams revealed that the students were able to successfully develop a test blueprint, utilizing case studies with Next Gen NCLEX question types designed to measure clinical judgment, and map to the 2021 AACN Essentials. CONCLUSION: The timely implementation of the curriculum revisions resulted in the achievement of desired student learning outcomes. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(3):192-196.].

Verbal Behavior of Mothers With Opioid Use Disorder While Feeding Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: An infant's cognitive development is highly dependent on early interactions with its primary caregiver, often its mother. Feeding, a frequent and early exchange between mothers and infants, is an important time for maternal-infant bonding. Mothers with opioid use disorder have been found to be more physically and verbally stimulating and more active during feeds than mothers with no opioid use. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of verbal interactions mothers with opioid use disorder expressed while engaged in a feeding encounter with their infant undergoing treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome to offer insight into maternal experiences and potential challenges of feeding infants experiencing withdrawal. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive analysis of maternal verbalizations during the feeding was used in a secondary analysis using the Barnard Model as the theoretical framework for maternal-infant interaction. RESULTS: A theory-driven deductive approach was assumed to organize the identified subthemes within the concepts of the Barnard Model. Mothers frequently commented on hunger, satiation, and stress cues, while providing consolation, praise, and encouragement. Mothers expressed concerns regarding feeding volume and pace, and consequences related to feeding. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: It is crucial that clinicians remember that feeding is an important time for maternal-infant bonding. Further research into the feeding interactions of mother-infant dyads with opioid exposure is warranted. As infants may present with subacute signs of withdrawal, including persistent feeding difficulties for months, further investigation into feeding challenges dyads experience after discharge from the hospital is needed.